Septum



June 24,1930. Bw. HAZELL 1,767,793

SEPTUM Filed June 4, 1927 Patented June Y24, 1930 i I t 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE4 BENJAMN WOODWARD HAZELL, ,0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SEPTUM Application filed June 4, 1927, Serial No. 196,537.

The present invention relates to optical ordinary form of refractionmeter has been instruments, and particularly to an attach- Shown by way of example, though it will ment for various types of vision testing and be understood that the invention and its measuring instruments such as test frames, advantages are equally applicable to other 5 refractionmeters, phorometers and optomrefractionmeters or phorometers or similar 55 eters in general. Optical testing, exercising or measuring An object of the invention is to provide a instruments. removable and adjustable attachment for The refractionmeter here shown bv way converting such instruments into means for of example comprises a base 11, a vertically testing the eyes for binocular1 vision. adjustable front standard 12 secured to the G0 More specically, it is an object of the base and carrying a chin rest 13. lens supinvention to provide such an attachment so ports 14 and 15, and lenses 18and 19. A constructed as to be readily attached and vertically adjustable rear standard 2O is sedetached, and, in addition, when attached, cured at its lower end to the base 11 and 15 readl adjusted longitudinally, and quickly carries at its upper end the horizontally ex- 65 move@ angularly and held in either operatending rod or bar 21, upon which is slidably tive or vertical position or in inoperative or mounted a card frame 22. i horizontal position. The present invention, as stated, includes Other objects and advantages of the ina septum, and provides means associated vention will appear from the following detherewith for supporting it and permitting 70 scription, taken in connection with thc quick horizontal adjustment, quick attachaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown ment and detachment, and means whereby a preferred embodiment thereof associated the septum, when attached, can be readilv with one common form of optical instrumoved to operative or inoperative position.

ment,- which, by means of the present inven- Accordingly, the septum 26, which is 75 tion, can be readily converted into a stereopreferably opaque, is rigidly secured to an scope for the purpose of testing the eyes for angularly movable hinge member 27, which binocular vision and also for the purpose of is formed for the reception of a pin or rod giving fusiona-l and muscular exercise to the 29 (see Fig. 4l). The rod 29 is provided in- "0 eyes. termediate its ends with the vertically ex- S0 The invention consists in the septum and tending offset portion 31, which, in the in the means and mechanism associated vertical position of the septum 26, is therewith, as defined by the appended adapted to extend into the vertical pocket claims. 32 formed interiorly of the movable hinge In the drawings: member 27, and, in the inoperative or ap- S5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refracvproxirnately horizontal position of the sep tionmeter, showing the attachment thereto tum, is adapted to extend into one or the of the invention; other of the lateral pockets 35 and 36, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the likewise formed interiorly of the movable 'lo sept-um, in vertical position and attached to hinge member 27. The hinge member 27 is 90 the card frame bar; preferably formed of two substantially flat Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the complementary pieces of metal, secured toline 3*-3 of Fig. 2; gether by rivets or eyelets 39, and -having Ar Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the fixed sufficient spring to permit-the offset portion o pivot rod ofthe septum ;y and 31 to ride past the shoulders 40, and from 95 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another one receiving pocket to another, when relaform of securing means. tive movement occurs between the septum Referring in detail to the accompanying 26 Yand rod 29, as when the septum is moved drawings, for the purpose of illustrating the manually to operative (vertical) or inoperattachment and use of the invention, an ative (horizontal) position. 100

lThe invention provides means for adjustple, without sacricing any of its advanably and detachably securing the pin or rod 29 to the card frame bar 2l or to the corresponding bar of any similar optical instrument, in such a manner that the pin or rod 29 is held against rotation about its longitudinal axis.

As here embodied, for this purpose, the pin 29 is provided at one end with a loop or eye 44, through which passes the shank of a machine screw 45 threaded into the upper end 46 of a spring clip 47. The spring clip here shown is provided with a pair of opposed gripping jaws 49 and 50, between i which is located a short coil spring 51, under compression, to give the jaws gripping tension.

It will be obvious that the pin 0r rod 29 may be similarly attached to the bar 21, but by other suitable means within the scope of the invention, providing for sliding or horizontal movement of the septum with respect to the bar 2l and for readily attaching the septum and detaching it from said bar, such, for example, as a collar 52 adapted to slide along the bar 2l, provided with a set screw 53 for securing it in iixed position on said bar. In some instances,'for example where the bar is rectangular in cross section, it may be desirable to use merely a sliding'collar 55 and omit the set screw, the construction being similar to the bar attaching means of the test card frame 22 shown in F ig. 1.

It will be seen that, by means of the invention, various optical testing, exercising and measuring instruments may be instantly converted into stereoscopes, and can be used for the additional purpose of testing the eyes for binocular vision, or to provide the facilities for different exercises or tests or measurements, all without interfering in any way with the use of the instrument for any particular purpose for which it may have been constructed.

The septum of the present invention can be readily placed at any desired distance from the eyes upon the card frame bar, and, when in vertical or operative position, limits the vision of the right eye to the right half of the test card, and the vision of the left eye to the left half of the card. A patient being tested can therefore read a whole line of letters extending horizontally across the card only when binocular vision is present.

For the purpose of giving usional training or muscular exercise to the eyes, the septum of the present invention is used in operative position in conjunction with a card bearing special images, letters, objects, or characters, so printed that a complete image, letter, object, or character is seen only by the proper correctional muscular exercise.

It will be apparent that various changes and modiiications may be made in the invention as here described by way of examtages, and without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A septum including a septum portion, a clamp, elements rotatably securing said septum portion to said clamp .and cooperating holding members for frictionally locking said septum portion in vertical or substantially horizontal position.

2. A septum including an opaque septum portion, a device for slidably attaching said septum portion to a supporting member, and elements rotatably securing said septum por'- tion to said attaching device including interengaging locking members for rictionally locking said septum portion in vertical and inA horizontal positions.

3. A septum including a septum portion,

a jaw clamp for attaching said septum to a support slidably in a straight line, and elements rotatably securing said septum portion to said jaw clamp including interengaging locking members for frictionally locking said septum portion in vertical and in horizontal positions. f

4. In an optical instrument having a pair of lenses, a septum support, a septum including a septum portion, a spring aw clamp for attaching said septum tosaid support for rectilinear movement therealong, and elements rotatably securing said septum portion to said jaw clamp including interengaging locking members for frictionally locking said septum portion in vertical and in horizontal positions, one ot said locking members Ybeing resilient and having pockets extending at right angles tok each other and the other of said members having an offset portion cooperating with said pockets and extending substantially in the direction of movement of said septum along said support.

5. In an optical instrument having a pair of lenses, a septum support extending in the direction of the axes of said lenses, a septum including a septum portion, an attaching element carrying said septum portion and slidable along said support, and elements rotatably securing said septum portion to said attaching element including interengaging locking members for frictionally locking said septum portion in vertical position in the plane of said septum support and also in a plane at right' angles thereto, one of said locking members being resilient and having pockets extending at right angles to each other and the other of said members having an oifset portion cooperating with said pockets. f

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

BENJAMIN VwoonwARn HAZELL. 

